The Key to Good Driving

Driving is something we all have to face when we are stepping out of childhood and into adulthood. We all are going to have to go through getting our learners permit and finally, our license. Whether we are scared, excited, or just unemotional about getting our privilege to learn to drive, there are a lot of pointers you could use to make your whole driving experience safer and more successful. You won't be getting any awards for it just like you wouldn't get any NKY plaques or Florence t-shirts, but you will get the satisfaction of being able to be independent from your parents finally. The following are some tips to be good at driving so you can cruise anywhere.

One of the first things you need to do while driving is always drive defensively. You must drive like you can't trust the other drivers on the road. Assume that all of them might do anything wrong at any second. This way, you will be able to anticipate their wrong moves at any time. You would also never be caught off guard so there will be fewer accidents or even none. When you get to a green light in an intersection, a busy one at that, make sure that you always check to see if any one will come driving through and run the stop light. This often happens and is one of the leading causes of car accidents each year. So to stay away from this, you must set your defenses at all time and not let yourself get carried away with the new found freedom of driving.

Another thing that you need to be aware of while starting out on the road is distractions. You must be able to minimize distractions as much as possible. You can take your cell phone with you, but you should either keep it off or away from you. This is just in case you feel tempted to reach for it to answer a call or a text while driving. Any of these actions are extremely hazardous and could ultimately lead to a car accident and pain for you and possible others who could get involved. Now you wouldn't want this to happen would you? I'm sure no one would wish this kind of pain and horror on anybody especially when the blame would be all on you for letting yourself get distracted in the car.

Another thing to do is to watch out for the small things. They all may seem a little bit unimportant, but believe the fact that they all add up to be very vital in your journey in driving. These little things include, your blinkers, your breaks and can even be as miniscule as your windshield wipers. Make sure your breaks work well and effectively so that you don't run into any problems.

Helpful tips to remember when you first get out on the road. There are so many obstacles you will need to overcome, but there is hope of avoiding them and becoming the supreme driver. When you get out there, keep these pointers in mind and you are guaranteed to be a safe and skillful driver.

- Connor R. Sullivan -

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Power Steering Fluid - Keeping on Top of It

Driving a car with power steering and driving one without it are almost like two completely different things. Sure, both entail driving, but the difference that power steering makes to the whole process is significant.

For straight line driving, and even some cornering, you may not notice a big difference, but in tight corners and when it comes to parking your car you will find that a car with power steering will make the entire process a lot more manageable and hassle-free. Thus, if you have power steering, you will want to make sure that it is in the best condition it can be. If the steering fails in your car, you will soon know about it. It is better by far to take preventative action rather than correct the problems after they happen.

The power steering in a car relies, as much as anything, on the power steering fluid. Consider the fluid to be to your power steering what the petrol is to your engine - it may not be what does all the work, but without it the work would be absolutely impossible. You need to make sure that the fluid is at the required level, and that the fluid which is there is clean and working properly. If it fails, it can damage the whole steering system, necessitating an expensive repair which will not go unnoticed in your monthly budget. It costs very little, however, to replace depleted fluid, so it makes sense to do this approximately as frequently as you would replace your engine coolant.

You should also check and replace power steering fluid if you get a hint that it is depleted. The first hint, usually, will come as you attempt to steer your car and the steering system makes a pronounced squeaking noise. Imagine dragging a chair leg across a classroom floor and you will have an idea of the noise. Check under the bonnet for the fluid reservoir which should be clearly labelled. The fluid in there should either be amber or a pinkish red color. If it is flawed it will be a darker color, leaning towards brown or black. If it is the right color but at a low level, then you need only top it up, but if it looks the wrong color it is contaminated and needs a full change.

You can purchase a tool to drain fluid from the reservoir if it is contaminated. This is something that you really cannot leave undone, as the contaminant will ruin your steering just as surely as if you drove with no steering fluid at all. Avoiding excess effort is no excuse for driving with poorly maintained fluid - it does not take long and it costs very little. Having the power steering system repaired, however, takes at least a day in the garage and costs hundreds of dollars. Taking the time out of your day to do some preventative maintenance really is a no-brainer.

by Levi Quinn

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Car Repair - Tips to Find a Trustworthy Mechanic

Having a car is just not enough; repairing and maintaining it on a regular basis is equally important. Your vehicle is a kind of an investment that you have made towards a better lifestyle. Therefore, it is necessary to find an automobile mechanic who can be trusted upon in case something goes wrong with it. When major maintenance is needed, do a little research and find the best servicing shop in your locality instead of just taking your vehicle to the first shop you come across.

There are a wide variety of shops that can be used for automobile maintenance. There are autonomous shops, quick service shops, car dealerships, auto body shops, and repair chains. However, the type of shop you should go for depends entirely upon the kind of service needed by you and the age of your vehicle.

- If you own a new automobile with an extended warranty, it is better to employ a local car dealership as most dealers have authentic, spare auto parts and trained professionals for the particular make and model of your vehicle.

- However, if all you need is something very small, such as an oil change, it is advisable to go to a quick service shop, which is a much cheaper alternative.

- On the other hand, if you feel your vehicle needs a more sophisticated servicing, you can get in touch with autonomous shops or repair stations.

After you have decided the kind of servicing you need for your vehicle, it is necessary to assess the professional who would finally be assigned the repairing work. Following are a few guidelines that would help you choose a reliable auto-repair mechanic:

1) It is said, "Prevention is better than cure". The same philosophy applies here as well. It is better to start your search for the best car mechanics in your area much before you need one. This can be done by taking your vehicle for routine servicing on a regular basis. Take your car to different service shops and get it serviced by different professional each time. This will help you contrast and compare all the options available and choose the best one among all.

2) Also, ask your friends, colleagues, and relative for their reviews of the different auto body shops, auto dealerships, and auto-repair mechanics in your locality. Word of mouth testimonials from friends and relatives are a great means to assess the shops and their staff.

3) You should also check the details of the professional you would be dealing with at the local chamber of commerce. Make sure they are professionally certified. This would help you avoid amateurish and untrained staff. After all, your car is an integral part of your life and surely deserves expert care.

4) Never base your final decision on the fee charged by an auto-repair shop. "The Cheaper, the Better" is a rule that should never be followed when it comes to choosing the best mechanic for your vehicle.

5) Make sure the service center you are targeting is well-organized and its staff well-mannered. Ask the mechanic if he has on-site from his past customers and if he would be using the most up-to-date equipment. Ask him as many questions as you wish in order to evaluate his knowledge.

Thus, with a little research and patience, you can easily find the best auto-servicing professional in your locality.

by Eshwarya Patel
ezinearticles.com
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